Freedom
is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by
the oppressed. -Martin Luther King Jr.
If
we direct an attitude of self-denial (or fasting) toward social
action, where will our "pointing finger" be likely to point
first? Are you guilty of any forms of oppression to others at work,
church or socially? (Serendipity Bible, 10th
Anniversary Edition page 1042).
In
Bible times slavery was an accepted institution. Sometimes even St.
Paul seemed to be okay with it. Now I think we will all say
thankfully it is seen as quite otherwise, and we can pause in
wonderment that it could have ever seemed right to enslave others.
I
often think of our society and wonder what people from another era
will look back upon as shameful oppressions that we tolerated and did
not even perceive as such. My prayer today is that God will allow us
to think outside the box and see clearly our world and its
institutions within the convicting light of truth. Certainly there
is no hope of us ever getting out of the box unless we exercise
kindness extensively in our everyday lives. We must come to
understand that the evil of oppression is obdurate and freedom from
it requires eternal vigilance and God's holy light.
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